Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir, Pro-Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes, spoke for the princely states at the opening session of the first Round Table Conference in London on 12 November 1930, just after King George V had opened the conference. It was, as he says, the first time the princes had sat "at the Conference Table along with representatives of British India and of His Majesty's Government." The speech is short and formal, one page in the official proceedings.
Hari Singh states the princes' double position. "As allies of Britain, we stand solidly by the British connexion," he says, and yet "as Indians... we stand as solidly as the rest of our countrymen" for India's "position of honour and equality." He insists that "Neither England nor India can afford to see this Conference end in failure," that "We are not assembled to dictate or accept terms," and closes with the princes' pledge that "this Conference shall not fail through any fault of ours."
[p. 15] I must express our deep gratitude to His Most Gracious Majesty for the cordial welcome tendered to us, and I pray that Providence may grant to us the vision and the will to realise the hopes expressed in those inspiring words uttered this morning by our beloved King-Emperor.
This is the first occasion on which the Princes of India in person sit at the Conference Table along with representatives of British India and of His Majesty's Government to discuss the political future of India. Allied by treaty with the British Crown and within our territories independent rulers, we have come here with a full sense of responsibility to our States and to all India. As allies of Britain, we stand solidly by the British connexion. As Indians and loyal to the Land whence we derive our birth and infant nurture, we stand as solidly as the rest of our countrymen for our Land's enjoyment of a position of honour and equality in the British Commonwealth of Nations. Our desire to co-operate to the best of our ability with all sections of this Conference is a genuine desire; so too is genuine our determination to base our co-operation upon the realities of the present situation.
Neither England nor India can afford to see this Conference end in failure. We must approach our task resolved to succeed and to overcome all difficulties. We all will have to exercise much patience, tact and forbearance; we must be inspired by mutual understanding and good-will. We needs must give and take. If we succeed, it is England no less than India which gains. If we fail, it is India no less than England which loses. We are not assembled to dictate or accept terms; we are met together to adjust mutual interests for the common benefit.
The task confronting this Conference is a gigantic one. In the case of no people would such an aim as ours be easy of accomplishment. In the case of India, the complexity of the factors is unique. But we believe that difficulties exist only to be surmounted, and, by the Grace of God, with good-will and sympathy on both sides, surmounted they shall be.
With the noble words of the King-Emperor's speech still ringing in our ears, we Princes affirm that this Conference shall not fail through any fault of ours.
Indian Round Table Conference, 12th November, 1930–19th January, 1931: Proceedings (Government of India, Central Publication Branch, 1931), p. 15.